Something to tell them

Jesus, help me think about people's advice, even when I want to make my own choices! Amen.

Two disciples were walking along when Jesus appeared and walked with them. They didn't know who He was and talked about what had happened to Jesus. Jesus explained the Bible to them, and they all had dinner together. When Jesus blessed the food, they suddenly recognized Him, and He disappeared. The disciples ran to tell their friends that Jesus was alive!

Some kids hate advice -- especially from parents. You want to figure things out or make a decision yourself, not be told what to do by your mother. Sometimes, your parents tell you something and you totally disagree, then a friend gives the same advice and you take it!

That might make you wonder about this week's Gospel (Luke 24:13-35). It takes place a few days after Jesus died, when His followers aren't sure yet that He's come back to life. But then He appears and walks along with them -- and they don't recognize Him!

Why wouldn't the two disciples realize that the person they meet is Jesus? After all, they knew Him very well. Some people think Jesus looked very different after He died and came back to life; but it might also be that Jesus didn't want to be recognized yet.

Even if you don't like advice from your family, you'll sometimes listen to the same suggestion from a friend. Maybe Jesus didn't look the same because He wanted to teach the disciples some more things, and He wanted them to listen to His advice like they would to an outside person, instead of getting distracted.

If Jesus' followers knew right away that He was Jesus and had risen from the dead, they might have gotten too excited to listen to His advice -- and He had a lot to tell them!